Stephen Colbert looks at Trump's recent low-energy 'smears,' wonders if he regrets winning the White House
"Do you think Donald Trump ever regrets winning the presidency?" Stephen Colbert asked on Tuesday's Late Show. "Not as much as we do, but maybe a little? Because right now he's being investigated by multiple congressional committees, the Mueller report could drop at any minute, and that flag he hugged is being interviewed by Ronan Farrow." (For what it's worth, Eric Trump told Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade Tuesday he has his doubts the presidency was worth the sacrifices.)
Colbert listed some of the pending investigations into Trump, his administration, his business, and his family, then showed how "Trump is feeling the pressure" by reading some of his tweets and showing a particularly "sweaty hot crazy" moment at CPAC. "Trump did what he always does when he feels down," he said. "He found comfort from his friends in the TV, tweeting this quote from Sean Hannity — see if you notice the small typo." In case you didn't, he read it and illustrated it with a Cathy comic.
"Today, Trump took some questions about the investigation, and he fell back on his favorite smears," Colbert said, but this time it was a little low-energy. "It's just so sad when his heart's not in it, you know? He's like an aging singer doing his 16th show of the week in Branson to a half-empty room: 'No collusion. Lock her up. Build the wall. Fake news. MAGA.'"
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Still, "Trump tried his best to stay positive," repeating his claim that he has accomplished more in two years than any past president, Colbert said skeptically. "Really? I just want to point out on Day 149 of George Washington's presidency, they passed the Bill of Rights — and it's taken you almost two years to violate all of them." Watch below. Peter Weber
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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
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